The satellite-connected systems will allow farmers to remotely monitor water levels in tanks across their property and control the flow of water.
Traditionally, farm and station workers have had to regularly and physically check the water level to make sure their livestock have the access they need. The product is designed to save time, fuel, money and labour.
Around 34,000 livestock farmers across Australia have recently been struggling with labour shortages, and the development of this product will provide farmers with an immediate solution to their current problem.
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Myriota has designed and manufactured the satellite connectivity component in Australia and has attracted investors such as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Boeing Horizon-X and CSIRO’s venture capital unit, Main Sequence Capital.
Myriota has also signed several deals to provide data using direct-to-satellite technology to teams in Europe and North America and is set to expand into Latin America.
Ben Cade, Myriota CEO, has said, “This is highly transformational. What is very exciting is that this is an SA-based company delivering solutions to global companies.”
Myriota’s satellite-connected sensors will be attached to Grundfos’ solar-powered water pumps, meaning farmers can use a mobile app to track water levels with regular updates throughout the day.
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Currently, 10 of these high-tech water pumps are in operation under trial sites in North Queensland, Northern Territory and Regional NSW.
There are a total of 20 small satellites orbiting Earth about 15 times a day, meaning that even the most remote water pumps will be able to be connected reliably and affordably.
“That’s a huge opportunity to develop volume,” Cade said. “If you just look in Australia, there are 34,000 different livestock farmers: they have more than a million water pump and tank systems. Globally, the figure is in the tens of millions.”
The partnership between Myriota and Grundfos offers huge growth opportunities for a company that originally developed as a spin-off from the University of South Australia with only a few staff to now having 50 staff members.
Last year in September, the company received a $5.48 million contract with the Australian Defence Force’s Innovation Hub to expand its internet of military things (IoMT) solution.
Liam McAneny
Liam McAneny is a journalist who has written and edited for his University International Relations journal. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Wollongong in 2021. He joined Momentum Media in 2022 and currently writes for SpaceConnect and Australian Aviation. Liam has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations as well as astronomy.
Send Liam an email at: [email protected]
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